Washing machine to use impact of solid materials and solid recollecting ejector



Feb. 4, 1969 F F. LAZAGA 3, 78

WASHING MACHINE TO USE IMPACT OF SOLID MATERIALS AND SOLID RECOLLECTINGEJECTOR Filed Oct. 19. 1966 INVENTOR. FRHNC/SCO F. 1.1921461) BY%WFiTTOR/UEY United States Patent 3,425,078 WASIHNG MACHINE TO USE IMPACTOF SOLID MATERIALS AND SOLID RECOL- LECTING EJECTOR Francisco F. Lazaga,2736 SW. 7th Ave., Miami, Fla. 33129 Filed Oct. 19, 1966, Ser. No.587,890 U.S. Cl. 153 Int. Cl. D06f 15/00, 39/00; B67c 1/10 4 ClaimsABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to a washing machine,and, more particularly, to a washing machine of the type adapted toutilize solid particulate materials in combination with a liquid medium,such as water and detergent, for a direct solid impact action onarticles to be cleaned and to recollect the materials to eject the samein a recycling washing operation.

This invention comprises an improvement of my earlier filed patentapplication entitled Solid Impact Washing Machine, Serial No. 383,297,now abandoned, and my improvement patent application for Solid ParticleRecollecting Ejector, Serial No. 431,584, now abandoned. An object ofthis invention is to provide a washing ma- -chine for articles whichprovides a distribution system for a liquid medium with interspersedsolid particles therein which are arranged to be impacted on articles tobe washed to clean them.

It is another object of this invention to provide a washing machine ofthe type described hereinafter which is adapted by reason of means todisperse solid particles in a liquid medium, such as plain water ordetergent, to impact articles to be cleaned with a steady stream tothoroughly wash the same.

It is another object of this invention to provide an improved washingmachine of the type described which includes a recollecting means andejector for the particulate solid matter incorporated in the deliverysystem which collects and holds the solid particles so that they are notrecirculated through a pump but which, nevertheless, provides thenecessary impact of the solid articles and the recirculation of themtogether with the washing liquid.

It is another object of this invention to provide a solid particlerecollecting ejector in a delivery system which includes a venturi typenozzle in a fluid path of materials under the influence of the pumpwhich is circurnpose-d by and in open communication with a supply ofparticulate matter whereby the said particulate matter is entrained intothe mainstream of the fluid flow to be de livered with the water orfluid being pumped so as to impact upon an article to be washed.

It is another object of this invention to provide a wash ing machinewhich is of the type described hereinaftel which is inexpensive tomanufacture, simple in operation and adapted to preserve pump life andto provide a thorough cleaning and rinsing of articles to be washed.

In accordance with these and other objects which will become apparenthereinafter, the instant invention will now be described with referenceto the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a partly broken away side elevation view of one embodimentof the instant invention;

FIGURE 2 is a plan view in cross section which is partly broken away andwhich is taken along the plane indicated by the line 2-2 of FIGURE 1 andlooking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 3 is a side elevation view of an improved alternative embodimentof the instant invention; and

FIGURE 4 is a view in cross section of that portion of FIGURE 3 with thearrowed line 4-4 therearound.

Referring to the drawings, wherein like reference characters designatelike or corresponding parts throughout the different views, andreferring more particularly to the embodiments of FIGURES 1 and 2, thenumerals 1 and 1' each designate a conveyor shaft in spaced relation,which is mounted and rotatable in bearings numbered 2 and 2'respectively which are attached to a machine frame defining a container72 for articles to be cleaned. The numerals 3 and 3' designate a drivingand a driven chain sprocket wheel which are mounted on each end of theshafts 1 and 1' to rotate with the shafts. Conveyor chains 4 and 4' areconnected to sprocket wheels mounted on the shafts and trays designatedby the numeral 5 are provided which engage with the conveyor chains andare supported thereby for travel through the device. Power meanscomprising an electric motor 6 with a reduction gear case may beprovided to operate the conveyor at a slow linear speed. Within theframe a centrifugal pump 7 and a driving motor are provided to supply ahigh pressure flow for washing and rinsing liquids by ejection of fluidthrough the confronting nozzles 8 and 8'. Suitable tubing and fittingsdesignated by the numerals 9 are provided to interconnect the nozzlesand the pump. In the embodiment of FIGURE 1, the numeral 10* comprises asuction pipe connected to the pump, the terminal end of which isdisposed near the bottom of an inverted funnel type tank 11 to collectliquid and material in the well type bottom or sump portion. A drainvalve 12 is provided in the bottom of the tank as is an appropriatestrainer 12 in spanning relation to trap certain size particles. Thetank 11 extends from the bottom to the top of the machine with theenlarged mouth opening at substantially the height of the conveyor chainimmediately adjacent the line of travel of the trays 5 through themachine. An electric blower 13 is preferably provided with an electricheater element '14 adjacent its nozzle to supply -heated air to dry thedishes or the utensils as they complete their path through the washingportion of the washing machine and into the counter portion designatedby the numeral 16. The counter portions, which are designated by thenumerals and 16, include lifting tops with hinges at the rear ends andserve to store dishes and utensils and also convey them into and out ofthe machine. The counters .15 and 16 may also be provided with safetyswitches to control the operation of the machine by starting or stoppingit. The numeral 17 designates a collection of particulate solidmaterial, preferably of generally uniform material, such as buckshot orother small diameter size so as to be lightweight and also so as to havea cleansing effect on continually impacting on a surface of a dish or autensil in a randomized distribution pattern in a liquid spray. Acontinuous circulation is provided of this particulate material, theconstituent elements of which are picked up on reaching the bottom ofthe tank 11 in the distribution system.

In operation, such as in a commercial installation, two units should beused in series with one of the units being for washing and the otherbeing for rinsing and drying. A suitable electric controller is set tostart the washing and rinsing operation. The drain valves .12 of bothunits will be closed first so that water may be flowed into the units tofill the tanks 11 up to a predetermined and preset water level.Thereupon, the washing liquid and solid particles 17 of the washing unitand the rinsing liquid and solid particles 17 of the rinsing and dryingunit will be caused to circulate as the conveyor chains 4 rotatetogether to travel the trays 5 through the machine through both thewashing and rinsing units of the machine with the path of travel of thetrays lying closely adjacent the upper and lower nozzles 8 for providinga high pressure flow of the combined mixture or fluid impregnated withparticles to produce a solid impact action upon the surface of thedishes and utensils. When a washing cycle has been completed the washingand rinsing liquids will be caused to stop circulating by deenergizationof the pump, whereupon the drain valves 12 may be opened to drain theliquids from the tank; however, the solid particles 17 Will be retainedby reason of the strainers in the drain valves so that the same may beused again in subsequent operations.

Referring to the improved embodiment of F IGURES 3 and 4, which issimilar in general structure and operation to that of FIGURES 1 and 2;although not shown, this embodiment will incorporate the conveyorstructure etc. illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, for example, the numeral 41designates a funnel-shaped tank to hold a washing liquid while thenumeral 42 designates a centrifugal pump and motor which, as is apparentin view of the foregoing, provides a high pressure flow of a washingliquid. A suction pipe 43 for the pump 42 is provided with the terminalend being adjacent the bottom sump portion or well 46 of the tank 41 forthe purpose of extracting liquid therefrom. A solid particlerecollecting and ejector means is provided in the high pressure path ofthe distribution system and is designated by the numeral 44, which isconnected downstream of the centrifugal pump. With reference to FIGURE4, the discharge of the recollecting ejector is designated by thenumeral 55 and it is connected to the washing nozzle 45 or nozzlesthrough tubing 48. A funnel-shaped strainer 47 is provided above thetank walls to line the mouth of the tank, i.e., with the mouth of thestrainer being connected in the mouth of the tank and with the sidewalls of the strainer con verging to a point spaced upwardly from thelowest point of the tank. The lower or smallest part of the strainer 47nests in the vacuum chamber 56 and may be in a threaded engagement ofthe recollecting ejector whereby the solid particles 17 will roll bygravity feed into the vacuum dhamber of the ejector, of which thenumeral 57 designates the inlet and the numeral 58 designates adischarge nozzle included therein and seen in FIGURE 4.

In operation of this embodiment, the tank is filled with a washingliquid up to a predetermined level which is sufficient to submerge therecollecting ejector, Thereafter,

the centrifugal pump is energized to cause a high pressure flow of theliquid past the inlet 57 and nozzle 58 as the recollector and ejectormeans 44 developes a higher velocity. As a result, the pressure inthenozzle outlet is greatly reduced creating a low pressure area in thevacuum chamber 56 which, due to the vertical position of the dischargetube 55, will permit the solid particles to roll by gravity directlyinto the discharge tube to be entrained by the discharge liquid streamand directed by the pump pressure to the washing nozzle for solid impactwashing action upon articles to be cleaned. When the liquid is dra nedfrom the tank the solid particulate matter will drop into thefunnel-shaped strainer which will separate the liquid from the solidparticles so that the liquid will again be pumped and the solidparticles will again pass through the ejector avoiding the portion ofthe fluid path tracing through the pump.

Thus, it is seen that each embodiment provides a washing machine toemploy a stream of solid particles and liquid, and, if desired,detergent, which w1ll flow through the nozzles; and, also, a solidwashing impact-recollectlng ejector is provided.

While the instant invention has been shown and described herein in whatis conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it isrecognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of themvention, which is therefore not to be limited to the details disclosedherein but is to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as toembrace any and all equivalent apparatus and articles.

What is claimed is:

1. In a Washing machine for circulating a liquid medium and aparticulate material of a character to gravitate in the liquid medium,the improvement comprising:

a funnel-like tank (41) for containing a liquid medium and converginginto a lower sump portion;

means (14) disposed above said tank for supporting articles to becleaned;

a funnel-like strainer (47) disposed in said tank and extendingtransversely thereacross and converging thereinto at an angle greaterthan that of the funnellike tank and terminating in a lower sump portiondisposed above the sump portion of said tank;

a mass of particles (17) gravitationally restrained within said strainerand gravitating to the sump portion of said strainer;

suction pump means having an inlet (46) communicating with said tanksump portion for drawing liquid therefrom and an outlet for directingliquid away from the pump;

solid recollecting and ejection means (44) including a downwardly openvacuum chamber (56) in direct communication with said screen sumpportion for gravitationally receiving and drawing said particlesdirectly from said strainer sump portion,

said last-mentioned means including a discharge nozzle (58) directeddownwardly, downstream of and below said downwardly open vacuum chamberand communicating with said vacuum chamber for providing a vacuum insaid vacuum chamber,

said particle recollecting means including a discharge outlet (55) belowsaid discharge nozzle in direct communication with said vacuum chamberand dis: charge nozzle for receiving the particles therein,

said recollecting means including an inlet (57) connecited to said pumpoutlet and said discharge nozzle; an

a p y 1101216 (45) communicating with said recoll t.

ing means outlet for receiving a mixture of the particles and liquid andbeing directed onto said means for supporting articles whereby saidmixture will be impacted onto articles being cleaned, be received bysaid strainer, and the liquid will pass into said tank and the particleswill gravitate down into said strainer sump portlon as the mixture iscirculated.

3,425,078 5 6 2. The structure as claimed in claim 1 in which saidReferences Cited solid particle recollecting and ejection means includesa UNITED STATES PATENTS chamber communicating with said pump outlet andconverging toward said discharge nozzle. "7 1:?

3. The structure as claimed in claim 2 in which said 5 "money 2,660,74412/1953 Cockrell 15-3 last-mentioned chamber includes an intermediatereversebend whereby said pump outlet discharges toward said FOREIGNPATENTS vacuum chamber, and said discharge nozzle is directed in 521,9973/ 1955 Italy. an opposite direction. 1,287,081 1/ 1962 France.

4. The structure as claimed in claim 1 in which said 10 means forsupporting said articles comprises a substantial- WALTER SCHEEL PnmaryExammer' 1y open framework, endless conveyor. LEON G. MACHLIN, AssistantExaminer.

